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National Justice Summit 2024: FG, International IDEA, others call For Reforms in judicial appointment processes
National Justice Summit 2024: FG, International IDEA, others call For Reforms in judicial appointment processes
•Summit seeks reduction of CJN’s powers
By: Michael Mike
Federal Ministry of Justice, International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), and other stakeholders in the nation’s judiciary have made far reaching recommendations that will address the issues of judicial appointment process, funding and eradicating delays in the administration of justice in Nigeria, at the just concluded two-day National Summit on Justice 2024.
The event was organised by the Federal Government in collaboration with the European Union funded RoLAC II Programme of the International IDEA.
In a communique issued at the end of the summit at the weekend, it was noted that the National Policy on Justice 2024 to 2028, will now serve as a roadmap, paving the way for a more efficient, equitable and responsive justice system for all Nigerians.
Chairman, Joint Planning Committee of the Justice Summit, Dr Babatunde Ajibade, SAN, who read the communique, said the summit had three technical sessions.
Ajibade stated that the general consensus reached at the summit was that the role of the National Judicial Council in discharging its responsibility for judicial appointments into the Superior Court of record required significant review.
The stakeholders expressed concern about the fact that the Chief Justice of Nigeria, who is the chairman of the NJC is also the chairman of the Federal Judicial Service Commission, the body that initially reviews proposals or lists of candidates by appointment into judicial office.
The summit pointed out the seeming inconsistency between the CJN playing both roles, as it would appear that he is recommending candidates to himself being chairman of both bodies, and being the person who appoints a significant number of the members of both bodies other than those who are statutory members.
There’s a general consensus by the summit on the need to reconstitute or propose reconstitution of both the NJC and the FJSC.
On the role of the State Judicial Service Commission in judicial appointmens, the summit concluded that there was a significant need to ensure that composition of the SJSC is more diverse, that it reflects the interests of the users of the justice sector.
Stakeholders noted the fact that the current NJC guidelines may have subverted the intent of the constitutional provision, empowering the SJSC to make judicial appointments, because the NJC guidelines, rather than authorising the SJSC to prepare a shortlist of potential candidates for judicial appointments, appear to address that responsibility solely in the Chairman (Chief Judges of States).
The summit therefore called for an amendment of the aspect of the NJC guidelines to make clear that the development or preparation of shortlist of candidates for judicial appointments is something that is to be done by the Commissions as a whole and not just by the Chief Judges.
On the general approach that ought to be taken to reforming the judicial appointments process, the summit stressed that focus should be on increased transparency in the appointment process, meritocracy and on meaningful performance evaluations of those who seek judicial office.
Also, it was recommended that Nigeria should consider the model that is currently being used in Kenya.
There was a consensus on the need to codify the judicial appointments process, such that the discretion that is currently witnessed in the appointments process is reduced to the barest minimum.
On funding, budgeting and administration for the judiciary, the summit resolved
that the current process for funding the courts was totally deficient as it was evident that the provisions of the Constitution as amended by the Fifth Amendment, authorising that funding for the State courts should be a joint effort carried out by the executive and the judiciary was not being implemented in any shape or form in the majority of the states.
Clear recommendations were made that this was something that needed to be pursued and dealt with decisively, as the summit stated that funding of the judiciary at the federal level is much better than what obtains in the States of the Federation.
More so, the summit observed the need to professionalise the administration of the courts, as well as to appoint persons with clear administrative experience to be selected through a transparent process to administer the courts, and to separate the administration of the courts from the administration of justice.
On eradicating delays in the administration of justice agenda for leveraging the rules of procedure and effective case management in Nigeria, the panel considered the importance of limiting the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, and ensuring that matters that would go to the Supreme Court would only be matters of significant national importance.
The summit held that before a matter goes to apex court, it would only be by the leave of the Supreme Court, and that the automatic right of appeal to the will be severely curtailed and will be limited only to matters relating to the office and the election into the office of the president of the federation, Vice President and, and Governors of the States.
National Justice Summit 2024: FG, International IDEA, others call For Reforms in judicial appointment processes
Ogoni Leaders Petition Tinubu, Accuse Wike of Undermining Peace Dialogue
By: Michael Mike
Leaders and people of Ogoniland have petitioned President Bola Tinubu over alleged attempts by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to undermine the ongoing Federal Government–Ogoni dialogue process aimed at resolving the decades-long Ogoni crisis.
The petition was submitted under the auspices of the Conscience of Ogoni People (COOP), formerly known as the Ken Saro-Wiwa Associates, a group of concerned Ogoni stakeholders advocating peace, justice, and sustainable development in Ogoniland.
In a statement issued on Monday and signed by COOP’s Leader and Spokesman, Chief Gani Topba, the group expressed strong support for the dialogue and peace process being facilitated by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, describing it as the most credible effort so far to address the long-standing Ogoni question.
COOP alleged that Wike has been engaging in actions intended to frustrate the dialogue, tracing the dispute to unresolved issues from his tenure as Governor of Rivers State.
According to the group, the controversy is linked to a long-standing compensation dispute between the Ejama Ebubu community in Ogoni and the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) over environmental damage claims that were decided in favour of the community.
The group stated that the Rivers State Government became deeply involved in the matter during Wike’s administration, a development that has remained contentious and unresolved in public discourse.
COOP further alleged that during the recent visit of the NSA to Ogoniland, political associates of the FCT Minister were instructed to boycott and undermine the engagement. The group claimed that efforts were deliberately made to sabotage the dialogue at the community level.
Raising security concerns, COOP alleged that armed youths recruited from different parts of Rivers State are currently being mobilised and camped around the Rivers State House of Assembly quarters, allegedly to destabilise the peace process.
The group also claimed that Wike is displeased with Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalaiyi Fubara, for cooperating with the NSA to ensure the success of the Ogoni dialogue. According to COOP, local government chairmen in Eleme, Tai, Gokana and Khana LGAs were allegedly directed to recruit armed youths to disrupt the dialogue and frustrate the proposed resumption of oil operations in Ogoniland.
COOP warned that if these alleged actions are not checked, they could pose serious threats to public peace and security in Rivers State and derail the fragile but promising dialogue process.
The group noted that the ongoing engagement has been widely welcomed by Ogoni people as a sincere and inclusive initiative aimed at achieving lasting peace, environmental remediation, economic reintegration of Ogoni communities, and the safe resumption of oil production in Oil Mining Lease (OML) II. They added that a successful outcome would significantly boost national revenue, foreign exchange earnings, energy security and employment.
COOP appealed to President Tinubu to intervene by calling on the FCT Minister to desist from actions capable of reigniting tension in Ogoniland. The group urged the President to protect the dialogue process and mandate relevant security and intelligence agencies to investigate the allegations.
They call on the President to ensure that no individual, regardless of position, undermines national interest for personal or sectional gain, expressing confidence that decisive intervention would help secure peace in Ogoniland and reaffirm the Federal Government’s commitment to justice, national unity and economic recovery.
Ogoni Leaders Petition Tinubu, Accuse Wike of Undermining Peace Dialogue
Gamawa commended Gov. Bala for the creation of additional emirates in Bauchi
By: Yahaya Wakili
His Royal Highness, the Emir of Gamawa in Bauchi State, Alhaji Adamu Abdulkadir Adamu, has commended His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammad A Kauran Daular Ussumaniyya, for the creation of additional emirates, chiefdoms, and districts statewide.
The emir made the commendation in an interview with Newsng in Sabon Garin Nangere, the headquarters of the Tikau emirate council of Yobe state, when he visited His Royal Highness, the Emir of Tikau, Alhaji Abubakar Muhammadu Ibn Grema II.
He said the strategic move by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammad, brings essential development projects, empowers local aspirations, and ensures inclusive growth reaches every corner of the grassroots.
The emir revealed that he was at the Tikau emirate council today to express his profound appreciation to the emir of Tikau, Alhaji Abubakar Muhammadu Ibn Grema II, for his support given to us since we were appointed as the emir of Gamawa, adding that Tikau and Gamawa have had a strong relationship for a long time.
He said, “Tikau and Gamawa share a common border, and also we are neighbors, and we have the history of the Tikau emirate for fostering unity, justice, and loving his people, as well as involving all stakeholders, and steadfastly upholding law and order in his domain.”
“Therefore, we are soliciting the support, advice, and cooperation of the emir and also strengthening our relationship to govern the people of the Gamawa emirate council fairly without bias or selfish interest, and we thank the emir for the hospitality rendered to him and members of his emirate council.
Gamawa commended Gov. Bala for the creation of additional emirates in Bauchi
Police sergeant arrested for supplying arms used in Nasarawa robbery
By: Zagazola Makama
A serving police sergeant has been arrested for allegedly supplying an AK-47 rifle used in an armed robbery attack in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
Zagazola reliably informed by sources that the development followed the arrest of a robbery suspect, Justine Gbata, 30, of Doka Village, who was apprehended after gunmen attacked one Muhammad Danka of Ankoma Village and dispossessed him of his red Bajaj motorcycle.
The incident occurred at about 1:00 p.m. on Jan. 24, when the assailants, armed with an AK-47 rifle, fired several shots during the operation before fleeing into a nearby forest with the motorcycle.
“After the report, a combined team of police operatives, vigilantes and hunters pursued the attackers into the forest and arrested one suspect. Seven empty AK-47 shells were recovered at the scene,” the sources said.
They added that the suspect, who sustained injuries during the chase, was taken to General Hospital, Doma, for treatment.
“During interrogation, the suspect confessed that the rifle used for the robbery was supplied by a serving police sergeant attached to Daudu Division in Benue State,” the sources said.
The sergeant has since been identified and detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Benue for further investigation.
Police authorities said efforts were ongoing to arrest the remaining members of the gang and recover the stolen motorcycle, while investigations into the case continue.
Police sergeant arrested for supplying arms used in Nasarawa robbery
Ogoni Leaders Petition Tinubu, Accuse Wike of Undermining Peace Dialogue
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